Slalom rope-release discussion thread

In a few different places scattered around the forum folks have dropped mention of a slalom rope-release mechanism.

Thought I'd try to unify that discussion.

My first question is: Ignoring the mechanics of how it would work, how could it be operated? I'm having trouble believing the observer could react fast enough to reliably save the skier from serious injury in the event of something getting stuck in the handle.

I guess I could see it if the policy is just to release the rope pre-emptively in any "ridiculous amounts of slack" scenario, but then some crazy guy is gonna get mad that somebody released a rope he wanted to try to hold onto.

My ski partner and I often easy off the throttle for huge slack hits in practice, but I can't really see how to translate that concept to a tournament.

Obviously, feel free to take this discussion in any direction -- the above is just a seed.

Comments

@ThanBogan the thing that first comes to my mind about easing off the throttle is more slack and a greater chance to get tangled. As far as the release mechanism goes, maybe something with two phases that operate independently of each other. A breakaway device with a soft release out wide and a hard or no release right behind the boat? Sounds complicated.

@crashman My slightly-educated guess is that it's quite a lot more at the peak of normal skiing than it is during an entanglement. Directly behind the boat, the skier is pushing against the ski. When entanglement occurs, the skier is just being dragged.

I'd imagine the muscular boys skiing 68 and 69 inch skis would put a 500-600 lb load range on occasion behind the boat. At entanglement, it'd be far less. So, that eliminates load releasing type mechanism. It is definitely a tough nut to crack. We definitely have to think outside of the box for this one.

Also, many skiers do not have observer. And even if you do, when do you pull, and are you fast enough?

@ThanBogan makes sensemaybe a video tracking device that can detect deviation from the ski's normal path- not sure how it would work but if my Xbox can tell me my wife if her zoomba moves are correct there should be a way to do this

Being one of the show skiing types - I have a release on my boat all of the time. I have slalomed on the release and had a couple pre-planned "surprise" releases to test out the concept. I have been released once in an OTF fall. If you have a diligent observer, you can be released from the boat at the starting stages of a fall. Of course, you may have been able to pull it out and ski away from the trouble, but once the rope is released from the boat, you are done. If you have a full load, you may have some recoil from the load being released. The bitter end of the rope has not reached the skier in my few scenarios and experiments. So, is it safer every time? No. Are you less likely to suffer severe head, arm, or other contact trauma with the rope/handle? Yes. Could you strike your own face with the handle in certain circumstances? Plausible, but I have not seen this, yet.

So, there is no perfect solution. I tend to use the release whenever possible with beginners as they sometimes forget to let go and to have body parts in weird combinations with the handle. On the tower, 100% of the time as handle passes are problematic with handle injuries - especially for beginners and those learning a 540 or more.

Having used one, I agree with Karl. They work. An attentive and educated (i.e. familiar with skiers habits/style) observer will (in MOST cases) release the skier prior to the line going tight (likely saving him from an injury). I'm sure that there are some instances that he could not save the skier. I would rather have 80% success rate, than 100% loss rate without the mechanism.

Also, it is imperative that the slack rope in the boat be properly organized, so it doesn't grab anything/anyone in the event of a release. Otherwise, it could be dangerous.

As mentioned before, #1 priority is to work on your balance and skiing with a TIGHT line at ALL times. Next, consider ANY safety measures that you believe in. Ski safe!

A human operated release - A ticket to disaster. First, now you have to have two ski buddies to go skiing. Second, the way one of my buddies drives the boat, there's no way I want him on a hair trigger. Third, we can go for months, even years, without seeing anyone get close to sticking their head or arm through the handle, so how can we expect the trigger-man to recognize pending disaster in a split second freak fall. Finally, a false pull can also be deadly. Drew Ross had a career ending injury due to a surprise rope "release."

An engineered mechanical release - The manufacturer better have deep pockets and a great team of lawyers. If it doesn't release, sue the manufacturer. If it releases unexpectedly, sue the manufacturer. It's a sad reality, that almost assures us that this device may never arrive.

What if u have a computer record the normal rope tension patterns during slalom course skiing. If u get a large enough data set I am pretty sure it could identify an abnormal event ie arm in bridle. This information could then be incorporated into a release device which could do automatic as well as manual release. Expensive but considering the amount of money we spend not inconceivable.

@h20ya I would doubt that a very dangerous pattern is reliably differentiable from the full envelope of "normal" patterns -- i.e. all the ones that could mean the skier doesn't want the handle released.

In fact, the fatal event (head directly through handle on an OTF), might not exhibit any tension pattern difference from a fully successful run until it's too late.

Note: The easy part of engineering is telling you what ISN'T going to work. I am in no way claiming I have a better idea. Indeed my lack of a good idea is why I started this thread.

I'm intrigued that those who have tried the manual release found it pretty helpful. I wasn't expecting that.

I think it is easier for an observer to release during slalom than during trick skiing (think how fast a trick skier falls when he catches an edge). The experience of the release person is key in both cases but with the right observer doable.

It would have to be the size of a barefoot boom clamp to take all the torque. I wonder what has changed that so many people are getting body parts stuck in handles. When I brought it up in the other thread I was thinking if they could have released the rope if it could have reduced the severity of his injuries. It is going to take at least 3 or more seconds to stop the boat and take the tension out of the rope. Theoretically it would be possible to release the rope in 2 seconds or less. I never heard about people getting their heads stuck in the handles until the last few years. I wonder what has changed that seems to be making that happen more.

@ShaneH - yes. . I have a delaminated sense of humor if you haven't caught on.

I have broke my share, (and then some), of ropes and handles, and every one of them behind the boat, but, have walked away from all of them. Bruised and one time bloody, but I bet anyone of the guys messed up by handle incidents would trade up.

@h20ya You are correct. They will work as you mentioned. They also will not pre-release, unless someone pulls the cord. They are very strong, yet, release the instant that it's triggered.

The real problems, however, aren't if they work. They are having the right person as a 3rd, that will pay attention. The 3rd can't just be a guy on vacation, obviously. The 2nd problem, is you probably won't be getting any video to train with...